US consumer confidence fell for the fourth consecutive month in September, slipping to its lowest level since November last year.
The New York-based Conference Board said its Consumer Confidence Index fell to 93.3 from a revised 94.5 in August.
The industry group's index, based on a monthly survey of some 5,000 US households, is closely watched because confidence fuels consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of the nation's economic activity.
In the past month, consumers have become more divided in their assessments of the present economic situation, but more optimistic about prospects for upcoming months, the Conference Board said.
The board's Present Situation Index, which measures consumer sentiment about the business conditions at the moment, declined to 88.5 from 93.1.
But its Expectations Index, gauging feelings about the future, rose slightly.
PA